wurde ase xrsvant arfereecor EAT Phone: 91-11-26074100125074200 (ase oftaes oft ast sara) National Highways Authority of India (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) ‘wh-5 Ua 6, Faez-10, sree, TE Peet - 110075 G-5.& 6, Sector-10, Dwarka, New Delhi-110075 NHAI/Policy Guidelines/Standard DCA Document HAM/2020 Policy Circular No. 3.1.27 dated 19*" November, 2020 (Decision taken on e-office file Comp. No. 46547) Instruction of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure regarding (i) Performance Security, (ii) Additional Security Deposit/Bank Guarantee(BG) in case of Abnormally Low Bids (ALBs) and (iii) Bid Security/ Earnest Money Deposit MORTH vide OM no. F.No. G-20016/01/2020-TF-II dated 17.11.2020 has forwarded 3 Nos. of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.Ms. No. F.9/4/2020-PPD dated 12.11.2020 on subject mentioned above for immediate implementation by all concerned. A copy of the same is attached herewith for implementation with immediate effect. 3s This issues with the approval of Competent Authority. Encl. As stated above. To, (Digvijay Mishra) CGM (Coord) All Officers of NHAI HQ/ ROs/ PIUs/ CMUs/ Site Offices Copy to: Preyer All Members/CVO PS to Chairman Hindi Officer for translation in Hindi Library for hosting the circular on library site Web admin for circulation102655/2020/GM (CMD) Office No. F.No.G-20016/01/2020-TF-II Government of India Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Transport Bhawan New Delhi the 17" November, 2020 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: _Latest instructions of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure regarding (i) Performance Security, (ji) Additional Performance Security in case of Abnormally Low Bids (ALBs)and (ji) Bid Security/Earnest Money Deposit - regarding. The undersigned is directed to forward herewith 3 nos. of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.Ms. No.F.9/4/2020-PPD dated 12.11.2020 on the subjects mentioned above as per details given below:~ ) ii) iti) 3. Security released for subsisting contracts may be sent on weekly basis to the undersigned Department of Expenditure vide OM No. F.9/4/2020-PPD dated 12.11.2020 has decided to reduce Performance Security from existing 5-10% to 3% of the value of the contract for all existing contracts. However, the benefit of the reduced Performance Security will not be given in the contracts under dispute wherein arbitration/court proceedings have already been started or are completed. All tenders/contracts issued/concluded till 31.12.2021 should also have the provision of reduced Performance Security. In all contracts, where Performance Security has been reduced to 3% in view of the above stipulations, the reduced percentage of Performance Security shall continue for the entire duration of the contract and there should be no subsequent increase of Performance Security even beyond 31.12.2021 DOE vide OM No. F.9/4/2020-PPD dated 12.11.2020 has also decided that no provisions should be kept in the Bid Documents regarding Additional Security Deposit/Bank Guarantee (8G) in case of Abnormally Low Bids. It has been further mentioned that wherever, there are compelling circumstances to ask for Additional Security Deposit/Bank Guarantee (8G) in case of ALBs, the same should be taken only with the approval of the next higher authority to the authority competent to finalise the particular tender, or the Secretary of the Ministry Department, whichever is lower. Department of Expenditure vide OM No. F.9/4/2020-PPD dated 12.11.2020 further decided that notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 171 of GFRs 2017 or any other Rule or any provision contained in the Procurement Manuals, no Provisions regarding Bid Security should be Kept in the Bid Documents in future and only provision for Bid Security Declaration should be kept in the Bid Documents. It has also been specified by DOE that these instructions will be applicable for all the tenders issued till 31.12.2021, These instructions are being circulated herewith for information and strict comptiance. Action taken report on each of the items atong with details of amount of Performance Bw.” (Anup Kumar Dey) Under Secretary to the Government of India Encl: As above. — a Contd...102655/2020/GM (CMD) QfKENo. F.No.G-20016/01/2020-TF-II dt. 16.11.2010) DG (RO) & $5 Chairman, NHAL MD, NHIDCL AIUADGS/ALL CES CE (Monitoring): With a request to send consolidated figures of Performance Security released in case of PWDs on weekly basis against amount of work awarded Copy to: PPS to Secretary PPS to ASEFA PS to DFA Copy also to: Director, NIC - with a request to upload the OM on Ministry's Website along with enclosure of OMs of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure. Pike CO P= ROR102655/2020/GM (CMD) Office No. F.9/4/2020-PPD Government of india Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure Procurement Policy Division 512, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 12" November 2020 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subje: Performance Security. As per Rule 171 of General Financial Rules (GFRs) 2017, Performance Security is to be obtained from the successful bidder awarded the contract for an amount of five to ten percent of the value of the contract to ensure due performance of the contract. Similar provisions also exist in the Manual for Procurement of Works 2019 and Manual for Procurement of Consultancy & other Services 2017 issued by this Department. 2. The Government is in receipt of many representations that on account of slowdown in economy due to the pandemic, there is acute financial crunch among Many commercial entities and contractors, which in turn is affecting timely execution of the contracts. It has also been represented that this may affect the ability of Contractors to bid in tenders and hence reduce competition. Requests are being received for reduction in quantum of Security Deposits in the Government contracts. 3. _ In view of all above, it is decided to reduce Performance Security from existing 5-10% to 3% of the value of the contract for all existing contracts. However, the benefit of the reduced Performance Security will not be given in the contracts under dispute wherein arbitration’ court proceedings have been already started or are contemplated 4. Further, all tenders/ contracts issued/ concluded till 31.12 2021 should also have the provision of reduced Performance Security. 5. __ Inall contracts where Performance Security has been reduced to 3% in view of above stipulations, the reduced percentage of Performance Security shall continue for the entire duration of the contract and there should be no subsequent increase of Performance Security even beyond 31.12.2021 Similarly, in all contracts entered into with the reduced percentage of Performance Security of 3%, there will be no subsequent increase in Performance Security even beyond 31.12.2021. 6. Wherever, there is compelling circumstances to ask for Performance Security in excess of three percent as stipulated above, the same should be done only with the approval of the next higher authority to the authority competent to finalise the oO402655/2020/GM (CMD) Office particular tender, or the Secretary of the Ministry/ Department, whichever is lower. Specific reasons justifying the exception shall be recorded 7. These instructions will be applicable for all kinds of procurements viz. Goods, Consultancy, Works, non-consulting Services etc and are issued under Rule 6/1) of the GFRS 2017 kei (Kotlurd Narayana Reddy) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India Tel: 24621305 Email: kn.reddy@gov.in To, All the Secretaries and Financial Advisers to Government of India Copy to: Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises with a request to issue the same instructions to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs).102655/2020/GM (CMD) Office No. F.9/4/2020-PPD Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure Procurement Policy Division 512, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 12" November 2020 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: Additional Performance Security in case of Abnormally Low Bids (ALBs), The Government is in receipt of many representations that on account of slowdown in economy due to the pandemic, there is acute financial crunch among many commercial entities and contractors, which in turn is affecting timely execution of the contracts. It has also been represented that this may affect the abiity of contractors to bid in tenders and hence reduce competition, Requests are being received for reduction in quantum of Security Deposits in the Government contracts, 2. _In this context, it is noted that Additional Performance Security in case of Abnormally Low Bids (ALBs) is being taken from the contractors by various Ministries/ Departments though there is no provision for the same in General Financial Rules (GFRs) 2017 or the Manuals for Procurement issued by this Department. 3.___As per para 7.5.7 of the Manual for Procurement of Goods 2017 issued by this Department, an Abnormally Low Bid is one in which the bid price, in combination with other elements of the Bid, appears so low that it raises matenal concems as to the capability of the bidder to perform the contract al the offered price. Procuring Entity may in such cases seek written clarifications from the bidder, including detailed price analyses of its bid price in relation to scope, schedule, allocation of risks and responsibilities, and any other requirements of the bids document. If, after evaluating the price analyses, Procuring Entity determines that the bidder has Substantially failed to demonstrate its capability to deliver the contract at the offered price, the Procuring Entity may reject the bid/ proposal. However, it would not be advisable to fix @ normative percentage below the estimated cost, which would be automatically be considered as an abnormally low bid. Due care should be taken while formulating the specifications at the time of preparation of bid document so as to have a safeguard against the submission of abnormally low bid from the bidder. 4, In view of above, it is reiterated that no provisions should be kept in the Bid Documents regarding Additional Security Deposit) Bank Guarantee (BG) in case of Abnormally Low Bids. 5. Wherever, there are compelling circumstances to ask for Additional Security Deposit/ Bank Guarantee (BG) in case of ALBs, the same should be taken only with D>102655/2020/GM (CMD) Office the approval of the next higher authority to the authority competent to finalise the Particular tender, or the Secretary of the Ministry/ Department, whichever is lower, 8. _ These instructions will be applicable for all kinds of procurements viz. Goods, Consultancy, Works, non-consulting Services ete. hahha, (Kotluru Narayana Réddy) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India Tel: 24821305 Email: kn.reddy@gov.in To, All the Secretaries and Financial Advisers to Government of India Copy to: Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises with a request to issue the same instructions to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs),102655/2020/GM (CMD) Office No. F.9/4/2020-PPD Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure Procurement Policy Division 512, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 12" November 2020 OFFICE MEMORANDUM The Government is in receipt of many representations that on account of Slowdown in economy due to the pandemic, there is acute financial crunch among Many commercial entities and contractors, which in turn is affecting timely execution of the contracts. It has also been represented thal this may affect the ability of contractors to bid in tenders and hence reduce competition, Requests are being received for reduction in quantum of Security Deposits in the Government contracts. 2. _As per Rule 170 of General Financial Rules (GFRs) 2017, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and the firms registered with concemed Ministries/ Departments are exempted from submission of Bid Security. Further, in lieu of Bid Security, Ministries! Departments may ask bidders to sign "Bid Security Declaration” accepting that if they withdraw or modify their bids during period of validity etc., they will be suspended for the time specified in the tender documents. Similar provisions also exist in the Manuals for Procurement of Works 2019 and Manual for Procurement of Consultancy & other Services 2017, 3. In this context it is noted that Bid Security (also known as Earnest Money Deposit) is still being taken from the contractors by the various Ministries! Departments, though the relaxations have already been provided in General Financial Rules (GFRs) 2017. 4. In view of above, it is reiterated that notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 171 of GFRs 2017 or any other Rule or any provision contained in the Procurement Manuals, no provisions regarding Bid Security should be kept in the Bid Documents in future and only provision for Bid Security Declaration should be kept in the Bid Documents. 5. Wherever, there are compelling circumstances to ask for Bid Security, the same should be' done only with the approval of the next higher authority to the authority competent to finalise the particular tender or the Secretary of the Ministry/ Department, whichever is lower. 6. _ The above instructions will be applicable for all the tenders issued till 31.12.2021 wD402655/2020/GM (CMD) Office 7. _ These instructions will be applicable for all kinds of procurements viz. Goods, Consultancy, Works, non-consulting Services etc and are issued under Rule 6(1) of the GFRs 2017, Kewe RDA (Kotluru Narayana Réddy) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India Tel: 24621305 Email: kn.reddy@gov.in To, All the Secretaries and Financial Advisers to Government of India Copy to: Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises with a request to issue the same instructions to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) “4